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Salmond challenges Brown to economic debate

Salmond challenges Brown to economic debate

Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond has challenged the Chancellor Gordon Brown to a debate on the Scottish economy.

Mr Salmond is calling on the Chancellor – who is Scottish – to explain why he does not want Scotland to have an oil fund.

And, he accused Mr Brown of having done nothing to give Scotland a competitive edge and of using English economic statistics to “mask Scotland’s relative economic failure.”

Mr Salmond said: “On health and the economy Labour has been caught red handed boasting of English success and claiming it applies in Scotland. The Labour campaign is trying to mislead Scotland. The Chancellor, by repeating boast that apply to England but not Scotland is part and parcel of this Labour con trick.

“The Chancellor may want to dodge debate on Scotland’s economic future, but he can’t hide from the truth…. He has forgotten the folk back home.”